Jan. 15 marks end of health insurance open enrollment period

Health care open enrollment ends tomorrow.
Published: Jan. 14, 2025 at 5:44 PM CST
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ANNA, Ill. (KFVS) - The deadline to enroll in a health care coverage plan for 2025 is Wednesday, January 15, and those with one Heartland nonprofit are ready to help people get it done.

Those with one Heartland nonprofit are ready to help people get it done.

Rural Health, Inc. in Anna, Illinois is offering free assistance navigating healthcare.gov, an online private health insurance marketplace.

People living in Missouri and Illinois can use the website to find affordable health coverage. Kentucky residents must go through Kynect.

Chrissy Childers said RHI’s assistance program is grant-funded through Get Covered Illinois.

“We have two people who actually will walk you through this step by step. You do not have to be a patient at one of our Rural Health clinics, and you do not have to sign up to be a patient. After that, it is free of charge.”

Childers used a personal example to illustrate the importance of getting health insurance, even for people currently in good health.

One of her children woke up with partial paralysis last year, resulting in multiple hospital visits and a major surgery. The boy recovered, but his bills totaled more than $110,000.

The family ended up paying just $70 because that hefty price tag met their out-of-pocket maximum.

“So while you think that insurance coverage isn’t important because you’re young, you’re healthy; it just takes that one catastrophic incident to put you in the hospital and put you in the hole financially.”

RHI can help people of any age find coverage, from children to seniors. They can also help people enroll in Medicare and Medicaid.

In Illinois, Childers said a family of three with an annual household income greater than $80,000 can still qualify for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or All Kids program, which is free insurance for children.

People who lose their insurance because of a life change can also call, even if it’s outside of open enrollment, because they may still qualify for coverage.

Hours at RHI are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January 15, the open enrollment deadline.

Clinics are located in Anna, Dongola, Goreville, Metropolis and Vienna.

Childers said people can reach her directly by calling the Anna office at (618) 833-4471, ext. 9006.